MINERS' PHTHISIS.

Inangahua Times, 1 October 1915, Page 2

MINERS' PHTHISIS.

Pensions for miners totally , incapacitated by miners' phthisis are provided for in the Miners' Phthisis Bill, introduced in the House of Representatives on Monday night. It is proposed, that a married man, or a widower with children under fourteen, years of age, shall receive £l per week, while a staple man will get 15s. The pension cannot be drawn unless the miner con tracted the disease in New Zealand, and he must be a British subject, have resided in New Zealand for five vears and worked as a miner for 2% years prior t<) his application*. Any man who is not of good moral character and sober habits, or, who has, within the last five years, com? mitted certain serious offences, or who has deserted or failed to support his family, will not be granted the pension. On the death of a miner entitled to a pension under this Act, his widow may receive a pension of lis 6d per week for two years, and the State may pay his funer >? expenses up to £2O. A medical examination of pensioners may be ordered at any time, anJ a, man residing out of Ne % Z a lan I cannot draw the pension. It is provided that the gold duty payable under the V Mining Amendment Act* 1910. by which provision was sought to be made for pensions for miners, shall now be paid direct into the public account. The miners' pensions proposed shall b? paid out of the consolidated revenue.